Luxman Wijesuriya selected uncontested as president of Chess Federation

New officials of the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka.

Former national player and the Vice President of the Asian Chess Federation, Luxman Wijesuriya was selected uncontested as the President of the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka at the Annual General Meeting held on Saturday. The AGM was held at the Headquarters of the Federation under the supervision of a Neutral Election Committee elected at the Special General Meeting in December 2019. The committee consisted of Upali Gunasekara (Chairman), Aruna de Silva and Nadeeka Perera.

Incidentally all office bearers were selected uncontested, a communiqué from the CFSL said.

Malith Akalanka of Sri Lanka Army was selected as the Secretary General and former Sri Lanka National Player Deepthi Hewageegana was selected as the Deputy President.

Wijesuriiya was the Sri Lanka National Chess Champion in 1996 and 2000. Wijesuriiya represented Sri Lanka for 25 years from 1983. His international participation included eight Chess Olympiads which is the highest by a Sri Lankan player. He won a Gold medal at the Asian Team Championship 1995 in Singapore. As an International Arbiter he has officiated at top World Chess events such as FDE Chess Olympiad, Women’s World cup and FIDE Men & Women Grand Prix.

Wijesuriiya is the General Secretary of both the South Asian Chess Council and the Commonwealth Chess Association.

Malith Akalanka, the Secretary is also a long serving chess enthusiast who has worked hard to promote Chess in the country. He too is an International Arbiter.

Deputy President Deepthi Hewageegana who is the CEO of United Tractors is also a reputed former national player. He has been serving in the National Selection Committee for a long time.

Officials:

President- G Luxman Wijesuriya, Deputy President – Deepthi Hewageegana, Vice Presidents- Dayal Siriwardena, Dharshana Hewawasam, Rajendra Kalugampitiya, Sandya Kumari Aviruppola, Buddhi Nirukshi Panagoda, Buddhi Alahakoon, Thushan Wickramaarachchi, Ranjith Thilakarathne (Appointed by Schools Chess association), Secretary- Malith Akalanka, Treasurer- Erosh Sampath Jayasinghe, Tournament Secretary – Jagath Ketalawala, Asst. Secretary – Sumal Horawalavithana, Executive Committee Members – Chinthaka Weerasinghe, Vidura Koggala, Buddhini Wackishta, Akila Fernando, Kanishka Welipitiya, Jude Dorison, Ranjith Wickramaratne (Appointed by Schools Chess Association).